A 4-year-old boy drowned off a beach in Barbate (Cádiz) after a strong current swept his mini-dinghy out into the bay.

The emergency services received an alert on Monday the 6th at 18.40h to say that a child was being swept out to sea in an orange, toy dinghy off Playa del Retín.

The boy had been with his father but a moment’s distraction was enough for the tragedy to unfold.

Some bathers had tried to reach the child, but had to turn back because of the current and at some point the dinghy capsized, it is reported.

A rescue helicopter was mobilised (Helimer 205) and a sea rescue launch (Salvamar Gadir), as well as a private boat, María Zambrano and the Protección Civil craft. The dingy was soon reached but there was nobody inside.

It was Protección Civil who found the body of the child and despite their efforts at resuscitation (CPR) and the arrival of an air ambulance at the scene the child died.

(News: Barbate, Cadiz, Andalucia)